Lake Ohrid scenic drive: 6-hour full tour from Skopje

Lake Ohrid is on every Macedonia travel plan, but most visitors only see the old town and miss what locals truly love: driving around the lake. The full loop is 168 km, takes 6 hours with stops, and fits three UNESCO sites, a 1,600-meter mountain pass, and one of the Balkans' best clusters of fish restaurants into a single day.

This guide is for those who rent a car from Skopje and treat Ohrid as a long day trip instead of an overnight stay. It also suits an overnight plan — we'll mark points where you can stay overnight.

Tour plan: clockwise vs counter-clockwise

Both directions work, but **clockwise (Skopje → Ohrid center → Sveti Naum → Galichica → Struga → Skopje)** is a better choice for first-timers. You'll arrive at the most photographed view (Galichica bends) in the afternoon light instead of morning haze, and the Struga sunset will be your last moment before heading home.

Distances and driving times (without stops):

• •Skopje → Ohrid center: 175 km, 2h 30min via A2 highway
• •Ohrid → Sveti Naum (southern tip): 29 km, 35 min
• •Sveti Naum → Galichica peak: 16 km, 30 min (steep)
• •Galichica → Struga (western shore): 35 km, 50 min
• •Struga → Skopje: 175 km, 2h 30min

Total driving: ~5h 15min. Adding 2-3 hours for stops makes for a comfortable 8-9 hour day.

Part 1: Skopje to Ohrid (warm-up)

If you want to finish the entire tour in daylight, set off at 7:00. The toll A2 highway, after passing Tetova and Gostivar, climbs into Mavrovo National Park — the highest section is over 1,100 m and can be foggy in spring. Coffee stop: **Hotel Bistra in Mavrovo** (km 95), a terrace of a Yugoslav-era ski hotel overlooking Lake Mavrovo. Ten minutes, then back on the road.

You arrive in Ohrid at 9:30. Park at **Plaošnik** on top of the old town (free, unlimited time) and walk down — the cobblestone streets below will break your suspension. One hour is enough for the main sights: Hagia Sophia Cathedral, the lakeside promenade, and a burek from **Antiko**. Skip the boat tour if you don't have an extra day.

Part 2: Sveti Naum and the Albanian border

Driving south along the eastern shore from Ohrid center is what's shown in brochures. A single-lane road, the lake on your right, Galichica mountain on your left. Twenty minutes later, **Bay of Bones (Zaliv na koskite)** appears — a prehistoric settlement rebuilt on stilts. Worth a 20-minute stop, €4 entry.

**Sveti Naum monastery** is the southern highlight. The 10th-century church is small, but the peacocks roaming the courtyard are postcard-perfect. Lunch at one of the four restaurants at the spring source — order **Ohrid trout** (legally fished, €18-€25), with the spring lake view as your table. Allocate 90 minutes total.

If you have your passport, the Albanian border at **Tushemisht** is 200 meters further. You can walk across, take a photo, and return. Rental agreements with a green card generally allow this; confirm in advance with mkrent.mk.

Part 3: Galichica pass — the dramatic part

From Sveti Naum, turn east following signs for **Galichica** and Resen. The road climbs 800 m in 16 km, winding. **Stop until the third bend** (look for a small pocket around km 8): the photo where all Macedonia tours end — both lakes (Ohrid and Prespa) are visible simultaneously.

Galichica National Park entry is free. At the 1,580 m peak, there's cool air even in August heat. From there, descend west to **Trpejca** — a small fishing village with cobalt blue water, which locals call "Macedonian St. Tropez." A quick swim if it's hot; the water reaches 24 °C in July.

Part 4: Struga sunset and return

Drive through **Struga** along the western shore of the lake — the Crn Drim river leaves the lake here and flows towards Albania. The bridge over the Drim is the second most photographed spot of the day at sunset. Riverside cafes serve **astrek** (local rakia). 20 minutes is enough; you have a 2.5-hour drive home.

Rejoin the A2 highway at the Kičevo junction. You should arrive in Skopje by 21:00 — enough time for dinner if you've booked at Skopski Merak.

Which car works

The tour has two sections that are tough on low cars: the Plaošnik climb in Ohrid (cobblestone road) and the Galichica bends (steep but asphalt). A normal sedan is sufficient. An SUV is more comfortable on Galichica but adds €8-15 daily. **Mkrent's most rented car for this tour is the Renault Clio** — small enough for old town parking, light enough for the climb.

[Check out our cars in Skopje](/cars) or if you don't want to drive yourself, [book a Skopje → Ohrid transfer](/transfer).

Three mistakes first-timers make

1. **Starting too late.** 7:00 departure, otherwise you'll finish in the dark.

2. **Skipping Galichica because "it looks scary."** It's all asphalt, no scarier than a Swiss Alpine pass.

3. **Eating at touristy restaurants in Ohrid central harbor.** Food in Sveti Naum and Trpejca is half the price and twice as delicious.

The Ohrid tour is a one-day taste of Macedonia at its most beautiful — old churches, mountain air, fish restaurants, and a sunset that makes the drive home worthwhile. In summer, book your car at least 5 days in advance; partner fleets fill up quickly for high-season weekends.